A1 Foundation Crack Repair Blog

Sometimes, no matter what, when you live in a flood zone,  your house will flood in heavy rain. I have a friend who lives on a street called Water Row Lane, and last year their neighborhood had to collectively rent the Boston Duck Boats for 2 weeks to transport them from their homes to their cars in a nearby parking lot.

Water, might be good for flowers, plants, and trees, but it’s not so good for houses.

Live in a flood zone?

If you live in an area that has a high flood risk, elevate the furnace, water heater, electric panel, washer and dryer in your home at least 12 inches above the projected flood elevation.

You should have check valves installed in your home to prevent flood water from backing up your drains.

Have a sump pump installed,  and if you have a sump pump, make sure it’s working and install a battery-operated backup, in case the power goes out.

Clean debris from your gutters and downspouts.

After a flood

Check outside for loose power lines, gas leaks, foundation cracks or other damage. Make sure your porch roofs and overhangs still have their supports. Check your home’s and your out building’s foundations for settling, cracking or undermining. If you see damage, get a building inspector or contractor to check the home before you go inside.

Turn off all electrical switches, even if the power is out.

While the electricity is off, hose down the house to remove any health hazards left by floodwater and mud.

If your furnace or water heater floods, have a technician check them before turning them on.

If your basement is flooded, pump the water out in stages.

Dry out appliances such as washers and dryers before using them. They might need several days to dry.
 
Mold

Mold can produce allergens, and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances that can make you sick, so you need to ensure your home is as mold-free as possible.

Water damage should be taken care of within 48 hours after the incident or mold growth (or worse, bacteria and viruses) will occur.

The best way to prevent mold is to remove wet contents from your home immediately.

Wet items should be cleaned with a pine-oil cleanser and bleach, completely dried, and monitored for several days for any fungal growth and odors.

Dry out damaged rooms by opening windows and using high-pressure fans. If your carpets are damaged, you should strongly consider installing new ones.

Keep the indoor humidity low, ideally from 30 percent to 50 percent. Make sure places of high humidity, such as bathrooms, are well-ventilated. Use a dehumidifier whenever necessary.

Even if you remove the mold, if the water problem (i.e. a leaky pipe or cracked foundation) is not fixed, the mold will come back.
 
Hiring a Contractor

Do the research. Ask friends and neighbors and read reviews. Make sure the contractor can do the type of work needed, foundation and basement crack repair . And check the contractor’s current references.

Check withe the Better Business Bureau, A1 Foundation Crack Repair has an A+ Rating.

Contractors can’t collect more than one-third of payment up-front unless the job requires materials that must be specially ordered. They also cannot demand any payment before the contract is signed.

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Did you know that most basement water problems are not basement problems at all? They can be exterior drainage problems. So before you consider a sump-pump installation, take a good look at the drainage around your home. Make sure that gutters aren't clogged, and that downspout extensions move roof runoff at least 4 ft. beyond the foundation and that the soil within 3 ft. of the foundation slopes away from the house. If need be A-1 Foundation Crack Repair would be glad to perform an inspection of your foundation and check where the source is.

Even if these conditions have been met, water may still accumulate in your basement. The problem may be a utility trench that invisibly channels runoff back to the house or a seasonally high ground-water table. In these cases, a sump-pump installation is a good solution. Many new homes have a sump pit already in place, complete with a drainage-tile system under the basement floor that's designed to channel water to the pit.

This system is most appropriate where water infiltrates only one area of the basement, or where the basement floor was poured over a gravel bed. Many homes built over the past 30 years have several inches of gravel beneath the concrete floor. The gravel was used to bring a slightly over-excavated floor back to grade. Because water seeks the path of least resistance and will migrate sideways before it moves up, moisture beneath the floor will move through the layer of gravel to a sump pit before flooding the floor.

Sump pumps sound great. Well the only problem is that it's a big job that involves removing a 24-in.-wide swath of concrete and soil from the inside perimeter of the basement, adding gravel, drain tiles and a pit and replacing the concrete. Which is why we suggest you hire the professionals at A-1 to come in and do the work for you. While most home repair activities are do-it-yourself, they require a lot of expertise and labor to get the job done perfect. And our trained professionals know what to look for and how to find the best solution for your home. Contact us today and don't let water leaks take control of your home.

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If you have already lived through the dreaded experience of a flooded basement, then you know how much damage it can cause. Even one inch of water can take many hours to clean up and causes thousands of dollars in damaged furniture and carpets. Installing a sump pump in your basement is your best defense to prevent flooding.

Basement flooding is most often caused by water build up in the soil that makes its way into your basement. There are many ways for water to enter and many ways to prevent it from entering. A sump pump on the other hand is a last defense against flooding because it pumps out water from the lowest section of the basement before the water level reaches the basement floor level. As groundwater level rises it is diverted into the sump hole. When the water reaches what is called ‘the critical level’, the sump pump begins to pump it out through a pipe that leads outside and away from your foundation.

Apart from the obvious damages to your belongings, flooding can also cause plumbing problems, a damaged foundation or rotted wood, all which can bring down the value of your home. A sump pump can save you thousands of dollars in the long run by maintaining the value of your home and by protecting your belongings from water damage.

The sump pump has become more important especially in newer homes since the Federal Clean Water Act no longer allows builders in many municipalities to drain rainwater collected by gutters into sewerage systems. Water collected on the roof of your home and drained by your gutters can cause flooding if it is not carried carried far enough away from your foundation.

It is important to check your sump pump regularly to make sure that it is in proper working condition.

• Remove the cover and slowly pour water into the sump tank.
• Watch for the "float" to rise and trigger the pump.
• Once the pump is engaged, the water level will quickly lower and the float will shut off the pump.

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